T-runner



Aug. 27, 1963 1T. BIBB 3,101,661

T-RUNNER Filed July 18, 1961 f 40 j r r" 1 a j 3:1: 53% /a/::: I i l IN VEN TOR. JOHN. 7. 5/65 @Q WWW United States Patent 3,101,661 T-RUNNER John T. Bibb, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Loli- Products Co., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 18, 1961, Scr. No. 124,985 7 Claims. (Cl. 98-61) This invention relates to a T-runner *for false ceilings or walls used in air-conditioned or ventilated rooms to control air flow to or from a plenum chamber.

As a ceiling the assembly comprises panels resting upon the T-runner of the present invention. 'Runners of T-section are conventional and are conventionally supported from above. Each icludes a central web having lateral flanges which support the panels.

In accordance with the present invention, the flanges are slotted at points longitudinally spaced and slightly offset laterally from the central web. The slots are of predetermined length and spacing and the invention oontemplates slide valve means for controlling air flow through these slots. Slide valve strips are provided which are reciprocable along the lower face of the runner with portions engaging the runner about the respective slots and other portions interlocked in ways extending along the respective flanges. In practice the runner is conveniently extruded, the ways comprising slots formed in the extruding operation at spacing such as to receive and retain the margins of the prefabricated valve strips.

When the apertures formed in the valve strip register with the openings provided in the flanges of the T, the ports will be wide open. By moving a given valve strip longitudinally of the T with which it is connected, its ports can be moved out of registry with the ports of the T whereby to reduce or shut otf air flow through that \portion of the T controlled by such strip.

The ceiling panels are, of course, spaced from the web of the T sufficiently toexpose the aforesaid ports and accommodate such air flow therethrough as is permitted by the controller valves.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view showing in perspective, a portion of a T-runner and a portion of a ooacting valve strip, a portion of the ceiling panel also being illustrated.

FIG. 2 is a similar fragmentary detail view in perspective separately showing a portion of the valve strip.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of an assembled T-r-unner and valve strip.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in trans verse section through the T and valve and showing portions of two panels in assembled position on the T, a spacing clip being'sho-wn in end elevation.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views showing modified embodiments of T (and valve assemblies embodying the invention.

The ceiling panels 8 in appropriate sizes are supported on the flanges 9 of T-runners generally designated by reference character 10, each such runner or T including a vertical web 11 having a generally triangular head at 12, the web being integrally joined with ateral flanges 9. The T can conveniently be made by extrusion.

Slidable along the under surface of the runner in a position fully exposed to and accessible from the occupied portion of the room beneath the false ceiling is a valve slots at 16 and 17 with which the side margins of the slide valve 15 are engaged. The valve is desirably freely slid- .aJble along the runner but it should be substantially in face contact with the lower surface of the runner between the slots 16 and 17 which outline the way. In the construction shown in FIGS. 1 to '4, the valve has roughly the form of a W in cross section. This gives the slide valve stifiness despite its thinness. The complementary surfiace of the lower face of the runner is correspondingly shaped.

In the construction shown in FIG. 5, the valve 156 and the complementary (face of the runner are flat. In the construction shown in FIG. 6, the valve 151 has the form of a V. In each instance, the lower-surface of the runner 10 or 100 or 101 is complementary to the upper surface of the slide valve in the area of the way along which the slide valve operates. p

The flanges 9 of the runner have longitudinally spaced slots providing ports 18 on both sides of the central web 11, and the valve strip is provided at like spacing with complementary ports 19 which may be registered with the ports 18 to any desired extent by moving the valve strip along the way provided on the under surnace-of the runner.

FIG. ltshows the valve strip substantially closing the opening 18, while FIG. 3 shows the port 18 partially open, and FIG. 4 shows .it fully open. Desirably the valve strips are relatively short so that each of them will control a relatively small number 02E ports through the false ceiling. This fiaicilitates accurate control of air flow through all portions of the ceiling.

It is desirable to keep the ceiling panels 8 spaced from the web 11 of the runner sufliciently so that the panels cannot cover the openings 18. For this purpose it isconvenient to employ the clips 20 which straddle the portion 12 of each runner. The legs 21 of each clip have outwardly turned flanges at 22 which project from the web 11 for a distance which is desirably greater than the width of the ports 18. As clearly appears in FIG. 4, the flanges 22 abut the margins of the ceiling panels 8, thus precluding them from approaching the web of the runner so closely as to obstruct air flow through any of the ports 18.

I claim:

1. For use in a ceiling or the like, a T-runner having a central web and oppositely projecting lateral flanges provided with ports between which said web is disposed at one side of said flanges, the runner having means at the other side of the flanges for providing a slide valve way, and slide valve means reciprocable along said way in engagement with said flanges and having ports movable to and from registry with the ports of the flanges.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the slide valve means comprises an elongated strip having a cross section in the form of a W and to which the surfaces of said flanges conform.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the respective flanges are provided at opposite sides of said way with means providing channels extending longitudinally of the resubstantially flat between said channels.

5. The device of claim 3 in which said strip has the said ports, and clip means spanning said Web and having shape of a V in cross section between said channels. portions in marginal engagement with said panels to main- 6. The device of claim 1 in which The respective flanges tain said panels in 'the said spaced relation to said Web. have longitudinal channels at the sides of said Way, the slide valve means comprising a strip having its margins 5 References Cited in the file of this Patent reciprocable in said channels, the ports of said slide valve UNITED STATES -5 means being in separate rows registering with the ports of 2353 67 Lu'zt Dec 4, 1880 the respecuve fianges' 332 247 Edwards 0 t 2 1906 7. In a ceiling or the like, the combination with a T- 2 8 681 Raohlin 2 1958 runner having a central web and opposltely pro ecting 10 2,920,357 Ericson Jan. 12, 1960 lateral flanges provided with ports, of panels engaged with said flanges and marginally spaced from said web free of 

1. FOR USE IN A CEILING OR THE LIKE, A T-RUNNER HAVING A CENTRAL WEB AND OPPOSITELY PROJECTING LATERAL FLANGES PROVIDED WITH PORTS BETWEEN WHICH SAID WEB IS DISPOSED AT ONE SIDE OF SAID FLANGES, THE RUNNER HAVING MEANS AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLANGES FOR PROVIDING A SLIDE VALVE WAY, AND SLIDE VALVE MEANS RECIPROCABLE ALONG SAID WAY IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLANGES AND HAVING PORTS MOVABLE TO AND FROM REGISTRY WITH THE PORTS OF THE FLANGES. 